Fuel2Learn students to showcase skills at community cook-up
Youth
With the successful launch of the Fuel2Learn meal program in March, in partnership with YMCA Remote School Attendance Strategy (RSAS), the students of Newman Senior High School (NSHS) will be cooking for their families and community to showcase their new skills on June 28 at Newman Town Square.
With the initiative first started by RSAS to help increase school attendance by providing a healthy breakfast on the bus, the program has evolved to provide hot lunches in school, and now RSAS students learning to cook and assisting in the cooking of up to 100 meals a week for fellow students.
The YMCA RSAS program is a referral-based program; student referrals come mostly from the school and occasionally from The Department for Child Protection and Family Support.
Up to seven Year 7 to Year 10 students from NSHS will help Sue Lovett, YMCA RSAS coordinator and Courtney Moyes, YMCA Volunteer and NSHS Home Economics teacher, cook dinner in a commercial kitchen set up in the town square. The high school students are excited to be assisting with the preparation of the food in the afternoon, then cooking for friends and family from 6 pm.
“The program does not only provide the students with one good meal a day, it also gives them a sense of community and encourages them to come and stay in school. This upcoming event will showcase our student’s new culinary skills and will be a great event to get families involved”, explained Ms. Lovett.
NSHS Home Economics teacher, Courtney Moyes has experienced the excitement of the students first hand with more students getting involved and beginning to enjoy cooking healthy meals.
“It’s great to see these kids put a lot of effort into cooking. Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore or take hours, our students have learned how to make quick, healthy and nourishing meals in a fun and interactive way”
Woolworths Newman has shown great support for the event by donating the cooking ingredients and contributing to the weekly meal initiative along with RSAS.
The event is open from 6:30pm at Newman Town Square until food runs out!